Chapter 6

Even with the Third Gate of the Eight Gates combined with the basic Yunlai Swordsmanship, he couldn't leave even a scratch. 

Keqing's sword had even broken upon striking the monster's surface.

This was no ordinary sword. Given the Qixing family's wealth, the weapon had been forged by Liyue's finest craftsmen using the highest quality materials. For such a sturdy and sharp weapon to fail at even piercing the monster's skin...

This creature called an Abyssal Beast far exceeded Nathan's expectations in both offense and defense.

"But now is not the time to back down!"

Nathan stood up with his exhausted body, coldly eyeing the distant flesh sphere. 

After receiving the system's confirmation, he had cast aside his last traces of fear. 

This was just a life simulation – even death would merely mean returning to reality.

If that was the case, he would use this illusion to fully express the pressure he carried from the real world.

"Youth... is about burning bright!"

Nathan clenched his fists and began breaking through to even higher levels of the Eight Gates.

The Fourth Gate – Gate of Pain opened, further increasing his attack power and speed while his body began taking damage.

The Fifth Gate – Gate of Limit opened, bringing speed strong enough to tear up the ground as he moved.

The Sixth Gate – Gate of View opened, pushing his physical strength to the extreme.

The Seventh Gate – Gate of Wonder opened, causing blue steam from evaporating sweat to emanate from his body. In this state, all pain had been completely blocked out.

"That's enough, Nate, that's more than enough!"

Even without being close to Nathan, Keqing was pressed to the ground by the pressure of the seven gates. Though she didn't know where her childhood friend had obtained such terrifying power, she could tell something was wrong just by looking.

His trembling body completely mismatched the horrifying power. The feeling was too obvious – this was definitely a forbidden technique that exchanged life force for power. Understanding this, Keqing cried out to him with tears streaming down her face.

The more intensely it burned now, the more despair would follow when the flames died out.

"Not enough... this is still not enough!"

Nathan's presence soared to the heavens. Since this would be the final strike, he would make the fireworks even more brilliant.

"Eighth Gate – Gate of Death... OPEN!!!"

The final gate of the Eight Gates had a fitting name indeed. The Gate of Death – the ultimate gate that meant certain death upon use.

The blue steam emanating from Nathan's body transformed into red vapor from his evaporating blood. It was a brilliant yet deadly red, gathering into a pillar of crimson light that shot skyward.

"BOOM!"

The mere pressure from opening the Eighth Gate had blown a massive hole through the thick cave ceiling. 

Simultaneously, the adepti in Jueyun Karst all noticed the rising pillar of red light.

"What kind of power is this?"

Even these adepti who had survived the Archon War had never witnessed such terrifying power.

"An unknown power, terrifying and wild..."

Before they could finish their observations, several adepti rushed toward the location of the red pillar.

Meanwhile, in the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor in Liyue Harbor, Zhongli opened his eyes.

"Such unknown power... I wonder if it brings good or ill."

Even the ancient and wise Geo Archon couldn't understand the power Nathan had unleashed. This power had no connection to Teyvat, completely outside the understanding of the world's fundamental principles.

Liyue had finally begun developing peacefully, and Zhongli didn't want this power to disturb that peace.

...

With all eight gates opened, entering the Eight Gates Formation, even the distant monster sensed the danger. The flesh sphere desperately rose upward, trying to escape through the hole.

"Hmph, trying to escape?"

Watching the frightened monster, Nathan coldly snorted. Just a light stomp of his foot was enough to distort space itself. The desperately fleeing flesh sphere was instantly struck down by the immense pressure.

"Keqing, watch carefully. Everyone should have the courage to face their fears!"

All bodily pain had vanished – Nathan felt omnipotent. Even if this was just a life simulation, he wanted to say goodbye in style.

"Nate... please don't..."

Keqing covered her mouth with tears in her eyes as her childhood friend reached his most brilliant state.

Nathan lowered his center of gravity, making final preparations before his sprint. In the next second, he transformed into a streak of red light.

Running at ultimate speed, the red steam emanating from his body coalesced into a soaring dragon, with him at its head.

This was his final attack, paid for with his burning life force. Its name was...

"NIGHT GUY!!!"

With Nathan's ultimate roar, the red dragon viciously clamped down on the flesh sphere monster. The massive impact force burst through the entire cave.

The unstoppable momentum carried them through streams and mountains...

The dragon soared upward, carrying both the monster and Nathan into the sky.

"Nate..."

Keqing ran outside like a madwoman, but she only caught the final glimpse.

"BOOM!!!"

The dragon rose above the clouds, instantly erupting in brilliant light. It turned Liyue's night sky as bright as day.

Nathan... the monster... both vanished without a trace.

Only Keqing remained, alone amid the devastation. Where Nathan's attack had passed, forests, streams, and mountains had been split in two...

...

"Are you alright?"

When Nathan next opened his eyes, he found himself being supported by a kind passerby. The cave, Keqing, and the terrifying monster had all vanished.

He had... returned once again to the bustling Liyue Harbor wharf.

"Thank you... I'm fine."

After thanking the passerby, Nathan found an empty spot to sit down. He only remembered his final life-sacrificing attack, taking the monster into the sky for mutual destruction.

But his current unharmed state left him confused. Had he really experienced that life simulation, or was it just a dream while he was unconscious?

[Simulation complete. Cleared life scenario - Lightning Amidst Rain. Achieved ending - Burning Courage!]

The simulator's voice echoed in his mind, confirming that what he had experienced wasn't just his imagination.